International Herald Tribune
Paris
Sir:
Please pass this note to your columnist William Safire:
Dear Mr. Safire:
Enjoyed, as always, your February 15 column on "Gruntled, Kempt, and Couth".
You credit the reintroduction of the word "couth" to a Max Beerbohm writing in 1896. The word never went out of usage: It is found in the lovely Scottish ballad "The Road to the Isles", long predating Beerbohm, in which are found the words, "Where are the folk like the folk of the West? Canty and couthy, and kindly -- the best." "Canty" Is Scottish dialect for "canny", or "clever". And "couthy" of course means courteous or hospitable.
Why don't you sometime publish your business or e-mail address so we can reach you without having to go through a variety of editors and agents?
David Timmins - Geneva
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |